Cheap v expensive leathers - whats the diff?

[MGST]

Looking at getting a set of leathers, probably 2 piece with 360 zip. There seems to be a reasonable range of prices out there. To my untrained eye they all look very similar - 1.2-1.4mm drum dryed leather, hard CE armour everywhere, knee sliders, YKK zips blah blah blah. So what is the difference between say an $800 pair and an $1800 pair? And are some brands better than others?

Yesterday I saw a nice 2 piece M2R ( Made 2 Race brand ) for $500, admittedly it is a clearance line but they would probably be around $8-900 full price. Some others at the same shop were $1500, $2000 etc, and I couldn't really see any difference, apart from the aero hump, but I don't think I want that anyway ( too hard to carry a back pack ).

I'm a poor bastard with a budget of three fifths of fuck all , so if the $500 M2R ones will do 80% of the job that a $1500 pair will do for one third of the price, that will do me. Probably still much better than the cordura I wear now. I know you'll all say get Quasimoto , and I would like too, but I can't afford that much, even his $1K set he had on sale the other Saturday :crybaby:. So let the masses speak, and please educate me!! :mega:

[CHOPPA]

I have been running an ixon suit, its a very good suit for the $$$ but i have just bought an alpinestar race replica suit for an embarrasing amount of money but the diff is unbeliveable! the suit fits nice and tight but even with all the padding plastic etc etc it doesnt restrict any movement the leathers not stiff its so good.

I would say get a brand like alpinestar spidi dianese if you can afford it now cause in the long run you will save money....

If you want a cheaper suit though check mine out on trade me :)

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=154559599 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=154559599)
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[sAsLEX]

www.quasimoto.co.nz

Guy on the site runs this and his kit is well liked.

[CHOPPA]

actually if your interested in the ixon try these ones and the boys can do you a no interest payment deal!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Helmets-clothing-footwear/Leathers-jackets/auction-154538752.htm

[CHOPPA]

I know the quasi guy he is a very good guy and does well priced gear also my sis and mum have his gear but they have both found the leather to be very stiff and have had problems with domes and flys but all fixed very fast with no hassles. The race suit looks great though with the titanium bits on the shoulders etc

[gmh]

Hey there, well you in a similar position to me in looking at leathers on a major restricted budget, your budget seems a bit bigger than mine. Anyway i checked out the cheappy set at Botany Honda today, (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Helmets-clothing-footwear/Leathers-jackets/auction-154376795.htm), then looked at the alpine star which is about $1500 and asked the difference. I was told that it is the leather that is used. The cheaper one is made with the leather & silicone, whereas the a-star is pure cow hide (from the back of the cow!!).
This would mean that the a-star would last about 10 years, whereas the cheaper one about three years. Tried both on, and yes the a-star felt much more comfortable, just cannot affoed it now.

[MGST]

I have been running an ixon suit, its a very good suit for the $$$ but i have just bought an alpinestar race replica suit for an embarrasing amount of money but the diff is unbeliveable! the suit fits nice and tight but even with all the padding plastic etc etc it doesnt restrict any movement the leathers not stiff its so good.

I would say get a brand like alpinestar spidi dianese if you can afford it now cause in the long run you will save money....

If you want a cheaper suit though check mine out on trade me :)

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=154559599 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=154559599)
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Your suit on TM looks primo. but I'm only 176cm and 74kgs. Probably a bit too big? Otherwise I would take it in a heartbeat. I may be able to get a Spyke (?) 2 piece from a guy at work, couple years old, hasn't seen much use. Is Spyke any good?

Ok so the price difference reflects the quality and softness of the leather etc then?

[MGST]

Thanks for your comments GMH ( General Motors Holden?? Go Holden!! ). I haven't tried any leather suits on yet, I suppose I should. Maybe I should wait a year or 2 more then and buy a $1500+ pair and then I will be right for a long time?

[Racey Rider]

My Leathers I brought brand new on sale for $400. No brand name on them.
One piece suit, full body armour, but I added a better quality back protector.


In the last three years I've had a few good rolls down the race track, and they have handled the abuse ok. Odd hole that has been patched, and they have blown some double thread seams now and again, where more expensive leathers would be triple threaded. But these are easily repaired by the guy down the road. (people who have tent making equipment)

Yes one day I would like an expensive set of leathers, but that will be more about poser value for me, cause I deern't ever scratch an expensive set!

Better cheap leathers, than no leathers!

[Titanium]

1. Brand / fashion item - Are you paying premium for a name.
2. Manufacturer Margin + Importer Margin + Reseller Margin
3. Quality of material
4. Cut / design / fit

[Citroenjunkie]

I have Hein Gerike gear which is in my opinion as good as any other european gear (daines etc) I paid US$20 for the pants and US$25 for the jacket on e-bay.

I did a lot of trying on in bike shops before I started looking and once I was certain of what size I was and what fitted I surfed e-bay till I found them. Even after shipping (around US$40 per item) I did a hell of a lot better than trying to buy the same locally, (only place I found the same gear it was well over a grand).

The question is are you willing to wear second hand or not?

I recently bought a set of AGV leather on Trade me for $56. Yes they need a little work, but I'm willing to bet it will be less than a grand!

[TygerTung]

My advice would be, if you cannot afford good quality new gear, go for secondhand good quality gear (not helmets)

I got a set of one piece feildsheer leathers, about 1992 vintage, not so fashionable these days, but would be fairly good as they are the same model that carl fogerty was wearing when he won the world superbikes.

These were pretty much brand new, obviously hadn't been worn much at all, had no scrapes on them and I only paid $170 for them, so second hand is probably the way to go for you!

[inlinefour]

Looking at getting a set of leathers, probably 2 piece with 360 zip. There seems to be a reasonable range of prices out there. To my untrained eye they all look very similar - 1.2-1.4mm drum dryed leather, hard CE armour everywhere, knee sliders, YKK zips blah blah blah. So what is the difference between say an $800 pair and an $1800 pair? And are some brands better than others?

Yesterday I saw a nice 2 piece M2R ( Made 2 Race brand ) for $500, admittedly it is a clearance line but they would probably be around $8-900 full price. Some others at the same shop were $1500, $2000 etc, and I couldn't really see any difference, apart from the aero hump, but I don't think I want that anyway ( too hard to carry a back pack ).

I'm a poor bastard with a budget of three fifths of fuck all , so if the $500 M2R ones will do 80% of the job that a $1500 pair will do for one third of the price, that will do me. Probably still much better than the cordura I wear now. I know you'll all say get Quasimoto , and I would like too, but I can't afford that much, even his $1K set he had on sale the other Saturday :crybaby:. So let the masses speak, and please educate me!! :mega:

Do you really have to ask??? Your shitting me right:blink:

cheap = shit

expensive = quality (usually)

Don't piss around or you will pay (its called false economy) and if you want the best quality for money use QUASIMOTO otherwise I'll know your an idiot as what your talking about being quality is a far cry from what I do lad.;) Fuck the 2nd hand stuff to, that is baaaaaaad advice as you never know what your getting. HOW MUCH DO YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE??? Same principle as helmets, irrelevant of if you can afford, you take the risks. :nya:

[inlinefour]

My Leathers I brought brand new on sale for $400. No brand name on them.
One piece suit, full body armour, but I added a better quality back protector.


In the last three years I've had a few good rolls down the race track, and they have handled the abuse ok. Odd hole that has been patched, and they have blown some double thread seams now and again, where more expensive leathers would be triple threaded. But these are easily repaired by the guy down the road. (people who have tent making equipment)

Yes one day I would like an expensive set of leathers, but that will be more about poser value for me, cause I deern't ever scratch an expensive set!

Better cheap leathers, than no leathers!

Well if you was not such a skinny prick you could have had the one piece that sensei has now. They was brand new, worn only to check the fit. I see there is some crap advice on this thread but at least listen to the above. Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one, but on the interweb you cannot smell the stench. Ask those who have been riding for awhile, me I only rode for 26 years and its the gears fault that Im still alive.:whistle:

[TygerTung]

I have crashed quite a few times on the track with my secondhand leathers and I'm fine, no injury what-so-ever.

[FruitLooPs]

Yeah my second hand $500 pair of A-stars 2-piece has been down the track twice (slow low side though) scuffing but no split seams or torn stitching. :done:

[inlinefour]

I have crashed quite a few times on the track with my secondhand leathers and I'm fine, no injury what-so-ever.

Have crashed with brand new quality and been the opposite so whats your point? Each crash is a different set of circumstances and its a big world out there, have to think outside the square.


Yeah my second hand $500 pair of A-stars 2-piece has been down the track twice (slow low side though) scuffing but no split seams or torn stitching. :done:

Try doing that at speed on some rough backroad, your opinion will change fairly quickly.

[Quasievil]

Just dont go buying some of those cheap arse crap ones on TM dude, PM me your sizes and I will see what QUASiMOTO can do for you. PM me your budget to if you can.
cheers

[Sparky Bills]

As people have said...
Cheap=Crap.

Your best spending up a bit for leathers especially. There are tons of different grands of leather used. Cheaper brands tend to use stiff and weak leather and stitching.
Listen to the people in the know. They wont lye to you mate.

Brands to look for..
ALPINESTARS (Simply the best hands down!)
Spidi
Spyke
Ixon
Teknic (not the cheaper ones.. they are shitty)
Quasimoto (Exellent support from Brett)


Ive got a Alpinestars 2Pc (all black) that id look at selling. Its size 56.
Pm me for details. Its never been crashed with, but I hardly use it nowdays so willing to let it go.

[Drew]

My experience has shown a contrary argument to what's being said here.

I paid $500 for my first siut, (NorTech) and they were pretty good.

The biggest advantage to the more expensive brands is comort. This will equate to safety in that you crash less methinks.

[Sparky Bills]

My experience has shown a contrary argument to what's being said here.

I paid $500 for my first siut, (NorTech) and they were pretty good.

The biggest advantage to the more expensive brands is comort. This will equate to safety in that you crash less methinks.



Nortech!!!?
Mate, who sold you one of those?
I couldnt live with myself if I sold one of those to anyone :eek5:

[Drew]

Nortech!!!?
Mate, who sold you one of those?
I couldnt live with myself if I sold one of those to anyone :eek5:

Ever sold a set of spool? They come from the exact same place. I have had both sitting here together, the logo is lterally the only difference.

[Biggles2000]

I dont know the dif between cheep and expensive, but dusty in Wtn made me a set about 20 years ago, just a basic 2 peice road set. Well they are still going strong. I have had the jacket re-lined about 7 years ago. They have actually worn out 4 motorcycles.

[Swoop]

Looking at getting a set of leathers, probably 2 piece with 360 zip.
Yesterday I saw a nice 2 piece M2R ( Made 2 Race brand ) for $500,

I'm a poor bastard with a budget of three fifths of fuck all , so if the $500 M2R ones will do 80% of the job that a $1500 pair will do for one third of the price, that will do me.

I know you'll all say get Quasimoto , and I would like too, but I can't afford that much
I would be surprised if Quasi couldn't get you into a zip together 2-piece jacket and pants for "three fifths of fuck all". PM him.

[AllanB]

This would mean that the a-star would last about 10 years, whereas the cheaper one about three years.

Man your leathers will last a lot longer if you stop pissing in them every time you run in to a corner a bit fast!:blink:

I wear a set of leathers I purchased 25 years a go - back when leather was heavy thick stuff that took thousands of k's to break-in :whistle:

I condition them with a high quality leather oil/wax twice a year, get repairs (zips etc) done as required by a professional, and they have been 'adjusted' by professionals to adapt to my manly frame over the years.

As I tell my kids - look after your stuff and you'll have it for a long time.
I've still got a few of my Tonka toys from my childhood as well!

[Ripperjon]

Cheap doesn't have to be crap.

My Alpinestars jacket was cheap (odered online through eBay US) and it's awesome.

Cost me NZ$480 but it's near top of the line. There's cheaper AStars stuff on there.

[fence post]

my 10cents of experiances
mate i know your budget is tight, but i would definetly save a wee bit longer and get a good set of leathers!they fit soooo much better!which in theory should mean your armour stays in the right spot in the event of an off.
i tried on spidi,shift,revit,icon,alpinestar suits and a 2 piece dianese.the alpinestar vector suit fit the best handsdown!!then i bought it NEW from a store in the US for nz$1100 to my doorstep.$2000-2500 here.
when i was hit on my k4 gsxr750 head on by a sleeping driver on highway 1 on the way home fromm taupo trackady in december...him 80-100kmph and me 100kmph.the suit got ripped straight to the armour on the knee and right arm fromi impact! there was only 1 small scuff from when i rolled down the highway.i would hate to think what a cheaper suit would have done! i have no dought that the suit saved my arm and leg.i had a look at the armour and suit and there is alot more layers of leather in key areas.the amour is a hard shell with padding on the inside.
when i compared the armour with my flatmates "rev'it, gt corse".i was shocked!all the armour is just foam pad!
again this is just my experiences.

[Quasievil]

Cheap doesn't have to be crap.

My Alpinestars jacket was cheap (odered online through eBay US) and it's awesome.

Cost me NZ$480 but it's near top of the line. There's cheaper AStars stuff on there.

Why people think that just because its got a well known name it has to be top quality is beyond me, not saying yours isnt but there is alot of well known names producing crap gear, the crap bit is usually found out when you crash.

[cowpoos]

ALPINESTARS (Simply the best hands down!)
.

That a fact...thats why my ones fall to pieces after every bin I have had..seams opening up...leather tearing...the repairs are the strongest part of my suit! Might just be isolated to my particular suit..but still from a big name brand like that I would have expected alot better! especially when I have witinessed other brands of suits being constantly crashed over and over by racers [the same one's] and the fricken leather only gets a scuff!!

[Sparky Bills]

That a fact...thats why my ones fall to pieces after every bin I have had..seams opening up...leather tearing...the repairs are the strongest part of my suit! Might just be isolated to my particular suit..but still from a big name brand like that I would have expected alot better! especially when I have witinessed other brands of suits being constantly crashed over and over by racers [the same one's] and the fricken leather only gets a scuff!!


if I remember right they werent exactly slow offs though....
Maybe your fat ass is busting the seams??:stupid:

[Sparky Bills]

Ever sold a set of spool? They come from the exact same place. I have had both sitting here together, the logo is lterally the only difference.


What Spool are you comparing them too?
I dont like Spool either.
Both are shit in my books. :beer:

[Motig]

Better to have some protection than none I would have thought. Just get the best that your budget will allow. But dont forget Quasi when your looking.

[cowpoos]

if I remember right they werent exactly slow offs though....
Maybe your fat ass is busting the seams??:stupid:
why is the speed of the off relivent??

[flame]

Crashed at pace in a Tecnic suit (it saved my ass but destroyed the suit, it was torn to bits) the armor saved my bones mostly, still had nasty burns on my elbows and a cracked elbow,but all things considered, the suit did its job well. Crashed at pace in my Brixton (cheaper brand) and the suit got a bit scuffed up, had two tiny tears, but sure saved my skin and bones better than the tecnic (no breaks and no scuffs on my skin) and is well usable still....the suit that is!

I dont think it matters too much personally, as long as it's cow or roo hide leather, with armor and fits reasonably well. Ive seen alpinestar and Dainese suits absolutely written off after 40kph crashes too. I think it depends on how you crash, and what you hit along the way. Get what your budget allows, more importantly,try and make sure the armor is in the right place, and that it fits reasonably snugly, but without restrictions.

[FROSTY]

Id rather have a decent quality second hand sut than a cheap quality new.

[Kickaha]

Maybe your fat ass is busting the seams??:stupid:

No maybe about it :bleh:

[CHOPPA]

I crashed 3 times 1 at 180ks + in my previous alpinestar suit it was the bottom of the range and it survived only with some rips on the elbows and shoulders where on the expensive versions have plastic etc The difference i found in the alpinestar suit to my other suits is that they are way more comfy they give you way more movement so you can ride alot easier no break in period or waiting for it to stretch

[cowpoos]

I crashed 3 times 1 at 180ks + in my previous alpinestar suit it was the bottom of the range and it survived only with some rips on the elbows and shoulders where on the expensive versions have plastic etc The difference i found in the alpinestar suit to my other suits is that they are way more comfy they give you way more movement so you can ride alot easier no break in period or waiting for it to stretch
My suits the same as Technic's...I believe he ripped the arse out of it after a failed victory wheelie at low-ish speed at taupo?? ;)

[TygerTung]

These Dianese seem pretty good, swapped my fieldsheer's today with my friend, had a bin at about 100, slid down the track, no worries, didn't wear through or anything. Very comfortable too. The last time my friend was out at the track he crashed a couple of times as well, and he was safe as houses. I've crashed a number of times in my fieldsheers and they seem safe as houses too as I had no injury.

[CHOPPA]

My suits the same as Technic's...I believe he ripped the arse out of it after a failed victory wheelie at low-ish speed at taupo?? ;)


haha yeah but he crashed atleast another 1000 times in those leathers! Actually it only ripped the material thats the flexi patch in the groin, it looks like from your pic you had the same leathers as me

[Mikkel]

Each crash is going to be different... It's pretty damn hard to predict just about anything about how you're going to hit the ground, whether you'll be tumbling or sliding and wheter you might hit doing so and what you'll hit, etc.

My two crashes, which were rather similar in their cause (locking front wheel up at 70-100 km/h on the track), resulted in two quite different outcomes. One I hit the ground with helmet, shoulder and hip at the same time, rolled and slid along on my back - the second I caught the ground with my left hand and knee, rolled and tumbled for ~50 meters, landing more or less on my feet without even touching my helmet down.

I was more sore from the first crash than the second due to hitting my head. The leather on the back of my jacket got a small tear on the second crash - it must have caught on something...

In both cases the leathers, Alpinestars TX-1 jacket and track pants, did their job marvellously and I had no injuries worth mentioning. Had my gear not had proper elbow, knee and shoulder armour I would have had broken bones for sure!

My point is just, we usually don't choose how or when to crash - as such it's better to prepare for the worst than trying to skimp on gear.

[AllanB]

Bottom line I think is that any set of average priced leathers is going to be better than the ski jacket and jeans some wallys wear.

[Dakara]

Well there's a difference between Cheap (sh!t) and Cheap as in good value for money.

I've been using a Quasi Rapid Jacket (http://www.quasimoto.co.nz/products/?category=17) since discovering them on KB last year and I've not looked back.

It's a great Jacket at a great price. Obviously if you're prepared to pay, then there are better ones out there, but take a $1,000 X brand jacket, it may be twice the price but not twice the quality. You pay a premium for the Label, like anything really.

[crash harry]

I've recently done the excersise for myself and ended up buying a Quasi 1-piece. Brett and Paula were awesome to deal with and I think I got a really good piece of kit at a good price.

My $0.02 is that for a lot of the brands out there you're paying a lot of money for them being Italian or because some GP racer wears the same brand. That doesn't make them bad suits, or overpriced necessarily, but given all the data I didn't think they were worth the extra money to me. Also watch out that some of the high price brands have some low-end suits that don't seem to be up to the standard of their top end models.

However, there are some awesome deals out there on Trademe on second-hand gear. Lots of guys buy a suit and then never wear it so there's some good condition stuff out there at significantly less than retail.